Front Engine Top Fuel Dragsters a Huge Hit at the 48th Winternationals
Photos by John Ewald, Darrell Conrad and Pam Schavrien

 

 

The first pair out on Saturday was Bill Dunlap and Rick White.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rick White ran 5.957 at 244.25
Bill Dunlap ran 6.029 at 230.92

White's incremental times: 60ft-1.093 sec., 330ft-2.718, 660ft-3.976/198.03mph, 1,000ft-5.043
Dunlaps incremental times: 60ft-1.099 sec., 330ft-2.763, 660ft-4.031/197.71mph, 1,000ft-5.096

 

The other pair on Saturday featured Brad Thompson and Mike McClennan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike McClennan Ran 6.215 at 231.04
Brad Thompson Ran 5.738 at 261.57

McClennan's incremental times: 60ft-1.118 sec., 330ft-2.856, 660ft-4.163/192.41mph, 1,000ft-5.263
Thompson's incremental times: 60ft-1.044 sec., 330ft-2.654, 660ft-3.865/207.11mph, 1,000ft-4.880

 

One of the aspects of AAFD racing that fans at Pomona found "different" was access to the teams pit areas. Another thing they found remarkable was the more laid back attitude of the crews... they were actually have fun!

No restricted, by invitation only "Hospitality Area" in the Thompson pit - just a build your own sandwich table.

Rick White, Chuck Neal and their crew were obviously stressed out over all this.

 

On Sunday the first car out of the Pomona staging lanes was Mike McClennan in the Mike Fuller Motorsports car for a single. Brendan Murry's Chevy suffered a damage crankshaft on Saturday and they were unable to repair the car for Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

Note the Hoosier tires.... more to come.

 

Mike McClennan Ran 6.227 - no MPH

McClennan's incremental times: 60ft-1.132 sec., 330ft-2.873, 660ft-4.183/191.65mph, 1,000ft-5.276

 

The Neal & White car rolls through the Pomona staging lanes on a beautiful Sunday afternoon between the semi and final rounds of the NHRA Pro cars.

 

White was paired with Brad Thompson who was about to send a shock wave through the front engine Top Fuel dragster ranks and fans from coast to coast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To many of the fans at Pomona this day the scoreboard just said one car was quicker and faster than the other, but for fans of the class it was a jaw dropper. Brad Thompson had just run the lowest elapse time in NTF history - by a ton. As stated on the Welcome page article, this sets the standard for the 24 Top Fuel cars that will be competing at the 2008 March Meet at Bakersfield. We'll see YOU there.

Rick White Runs 6.197/0.00
Brad Thompson Runs 5.632/0.00

White's incremental times: 60ft-1.109 sec., 330ft-2.789, 660ft-4.107/188.60mph, 1,000ft-5.229
Thompson's incremental times: 60ft-1.003 sec., 330ft-2.573, 660ft-3.761/209.88mph, 1,000ft-4.770